Ajay Devgn delivered an impressive performance in Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster drama, Company that was praised by many. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, the director revealed that he had initially offered the film to Shah Rukh Khan, who had also expressed interest. However, after a meeting with Shah Rukh, RGV eventually decided to cast Ajay in the role.

Ram Gopal Varma shared that initially, Shah Rukh Khan was his preferred choice for the role of N Mallik, though he eventually reconsidered. He said, “My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh Khan. I went and narrated the story to him, and he was interested. But I somehow felt Shah Rukh has this natural body language, very energetic, he’s like a live wire. The idea of Malik’s character was that of a subtle guy, laid-back and cold-minded when he’s thinking. I thought SRK’s natural energy would go against that. To make Shah Rukh still would be an injustice to both him and the film.” 

He added, “I think there’s a performing actor and then there’s an actor. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but it’s just a different style of acting. A guy like Shah Rukh should be left to himself. I think directors trying to make him fit into a different kind of character won’t work. But Ajay was naturally suited for that role, he’s very calm. That’s when I decided to cast Ajay instead. I just had one meeting with SRK, and in that itself I realised it wouldn’t work, but I didn’t tell him.”